Paper-fastener.



J. C. HAWKINS.

PAPER FASTBNBR.

APPLICATION FILED 11017.11, 1911.

Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHBET l.

TNE NCRRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTC-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D. C.

J. C. HAWKIN'S.

PAPER PASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. s, 1911.

1,130,595, Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

. y mfm@ HE MORRIS PETERS C0., PHOTO-LITHC. WASHINGTON. D. C.

J. C. HAWKINS. PAPERTASTENBR.

MPLIGATION FILED Nov. 6, 1911.

l1, 1 30,595. Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

' 4 SHBTS-SHEBT a. 6 Q. 7

. Z0 l *4 /7 /7 ,e4 5

(L j/ l el Y @mf day.

/t-Il:` NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHDTO-LITHLI, WSHINGTDN, D. C.

J. C. HAWKINS.v PAPER FASTENBR. APPLICATION FILED Nov. s, 1911.

1,1 30,595, Patented Mar. 2,1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

im Je y@ 'm6,

J- 'Q- Fermes OF NEWTQN, Y.loira ENCE' PAPER-FASTWEB.-

tisanes,

To all .whom it may .concern Be it known that I, 110. HAWKINS, a citizen ofthe United States, residing 'at Newton, county of Jasper, and `State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and usefui Paper-Fastener, of which the following is aspeciiieation.

My invention relates `to paper fasteners and has for its object an improvementfin that class of fasteners which by a single operation cut a tongue out of the sheets of paper to be fastened together and at the same time slitfthe sheets near ythe base yof the tongue, `theflatter b eingautomatically drawn through the slit in thel sheets. In devices of this kind heretofore constructed, the slitting knife and the folding member were made of a single piece yof steel, the folding member having a set which. ,non

mally tended to hold the freeend ythereof in the eye of the slitting knife. This neces/ sitated the provision of means for normally keeping the free end of the folding member away from the eye in the knife. VlVhen the device was not iny use 'the foldingr member was thus subjected to a tension at the ,base thereof, with the `result that the member would break on after a comparatively short life. To remedy' this defect I' have provided a fastener in which the folding member is separate from the slitting kn'ifeand normally rests in a position away fromthe eye in the knife. yDuring the operation of the device the free end 0f the folding member is automatically brought towardthe eye in the knife. VIn its normal yposition `the folding member is knot subjected to any strain, and it will therefore last consider`- ably longer than the folding member ofthe devices heretofore constructed, as above noted.

Viewed in another respec`tmyinvention comprises features of noveltyfinpaper fasteners of the above-named vclass having a pair of spring-pressed jaws which "areoperated by handles.` yOne of `these features consisting in arranging the Spring'sinside of the jaws. *w

Another feature .consists in providing the upper jaw with means for positively T forc'e ing the spring `plate vbetween, the jaws `upwardly when the jaws are separated, while the lower jaw ,has means for limiting fthe upward movement of 4the fspringplate.

In the aeomrenying drawings: VFigur@ `Specieat.il/gni of Letters Patent.

Patented inap. e, yi915.

Applcatoniled. November 6, 1911. Serial No.16758,v635.

1y is aside viewof a fastener embodying myI invention; Fig. 2 is a crossfsectional` side view showing the partsin their normal position, the handlesfbeing broken away; Fig. i3 is .a Vview similar to Fig. 2 showing the "jaws in their closed position; Fing. i isa fragmentary cross-sectional view showing a modified form of my invention with respect to the folding member, the jaws being in open position; lFig. 5 is a view similar ,to Fig. 4f, the jaws being in closed position Fig. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectionalview 'showing a second modified form' of my invention with respect to the folding mem.- ber, the jaws being in open position;Fig. is a "view similar to Fig.` 6, the jaws being yin ,closed position;y Fig.' 8 is a top planL view ofthe spring plate between the jaws and with kwhich "the cutting mechanism coperates t'ogcut the paper; Fig. 9 is a frag m'entary view of the paper showing how the integral tongue passes through the slit to fastenlthe sheetstogether; Fig. l0 is a cross-sectional view on line 10-10 of Fig. y9; Fig. l1 is 4a longitudinal cross-sectional viewbf a modified construction, the jaws lbeing in open position; and Fig. 12, is a view of Fig. ll with the jaws in closed position;`

I will first take up the detailed descrip- .tin of the yforms shown in Figs. v1, 2, 3, 11 and 12. The'operating handles '1 and 2y are pivoted together at 3. The gripping, or outerportions, lof these handles are prefertably rounded-off, whilethe inner portions are bifurcatedl The bifurcations of vthe handle l are indicated atv 4 'and 5, While the bifurcations of the handle 2 are indicated at 6 and 7. Between the Vbifurcations i 'and 5 is pivoted'the lower jaw 8 by means of the boltor rivet 9.1` #Thenpper jaw 1.0 is pivoted near the youter end of bifurcations 6 and f7 of the handle 2 by means of the bolt .or rivet 11. The inner 4end ofthe lower jaw 8 is provided witli'a longitudinal slot 12 in whichengages the transverse tst ud lf3 care Tied by ,the lhandle' 2 at ythe base of the `bifurcations. The upper jaw 10 is at its rear end providedw-ith alongitudinal slotli in Ywhich 'engages' thetransverse stud 15 ,carl yried bytheI handle 1 in alinenient with'the stud 13 on the other handle. It will be apfparent Vthat the above-described connections betweenthe 'jaws and the 4handles cause' the jawsy to maintain aposition of parallelism at alltimes. Fig. 3 shows the jaws in their closed position. It will be seen that in this position of the jaws the. studs 13 and 15 are at the open end of the associated slots-12 v end connected'to the transverse .stud '15 of the handle 1 and its forward end connected to the bolt or rivet ,11. v'The spring b in the lower jaw isat its rear end connected to the slotted link c which terminates in an eye d 'for receiving the stud `13. The forward end of` the spring b is connected to the bolt 31V which is secured vertically in the lower jaw and vat its upper end Aprojects beyond the Y thatV the springs normally maintain they jaws and handles in vopen position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. I will at this pointk call attention to the arrangement of the springs in the construction of Figs. 11 and 12. In this form the springs are arranged in the gripping portions of the handles. The spring a is at itswrear end attached to the handle 1 at the point 1L and at its forward end to the extension 10i of the upper jaw 10. The spring b is, at its rear end attached to the handle 2 at the point 2b and itsforward end to the extension 8b of the lower jaw 8.

In the various forms of my invention the wedge-shaped' cutting knife 16 is securely mounted in the upper jaw 10, the front edge of the knife resting against the ltransverse stud 17,V while the rear. extensions 18 rest against the slitting knife119. fIn Figs. 1, 2, 3, 45, 11, and 12, the slitting knife abuts against the transverse lug 20secured in the .jaw 10. It will thus be seen that the two knives which comprise the cutting mechanism are firmly held inthe upper jaw 10 between the 'studs 17y and 20. Howeveny any suitable means may be employed for rigidly j mounting lthe knives-onthe jaw` 10. The

slitting knife19 is provided with an eye 21 near-its cutting end.V In Figs. 1, 2, 3, 11 and 12, thev slitting knife 19 is at its inner end provided with a slot .or opening 22. Associated with thef cutting mechanism is the-folding'member or folder,'as it will be hereinafter called, indicated as a whole by the reference numeral 24 `in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 11 and 12. In the form shown in these figures the folder consistsy of a downwardly extend-V ing section 25 and a longitudinal section 26 substantially parallel with the jaw '10, being madeof an inelastic metal thereby having a' substantially rigid form; The longitudinal section 26 is provided with side eXtensions 27 having elongated slots 27a through which passes the stud 15. The slot or opening 22 at the base of the knife is to accommodate the longitudinal section 26 of the folder and to hold the same in an open position substantially parallel with the jaw. The curved free kend 28 of the folder 24 terminates substantially in alinement with the eye -21 in the slitting knife, and normally rests in a position away from said eye, as indicated in Figs. 2 and'll.

The lower jaw 8 has secured thereto the die or base-plate 29L and the spring-plate 32. These are held in place by a bolt `30 which passes through the slot in the link c and also passes throughanf'elongated hole in thedieplate, 29 and carries a nut` 33. The rear ends of these plates 29 and 32 are connected by a screw 30 rwhich is reduced in cross section just back of the head so that it will enter. a slot in the down-turned extension 32a of plate 32, and so be free to turn without advancing y forwardly j or backwardly with respect to that plate, but its threaded end takes linto the-down-turned extension 29a of the die or base-plate 29. By turning the screw 30a in or out, the die-plate 29 may be shifted slightly with respect to the lower jaw, thereby changing its position with respect to the cutter 16 to tighten or loosen the shearing action when the paper is cut. The set of the plate 32 is such that in an unrestrained condition it rests against the lower plate 29. Vhen the parts are in normal position as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the plates are held apart by reason of the fact that'the lateral projections 34 of the plate 32 restvupon the engaging surfacesl 35 of the bifurcations 4 and 5.

Fig. 8 shows the lateral projections on the plate 32 and F ig.r 1 shows how these projections rest on the engaging surfaces 35. When the handles are brought together to close the jaws the engaging surfaces 35 move below the lower plate 29, as shown in Fig. 3, and the upper plate 32 isV by reason of its inherentV resiliency free to move toward the lower plate 29. The screw or bolt 31 is provided with a head 36 against which the plate v32 abuts whenthe handles are allowed to spread. Y Y

In Figs. 11 and 12 the engaging surfaces arated. A lugy29d struck up fromthe lower plate 29 passes through a slot 32b inthe plate 32 and has an extension 29b which overlaps the plate 32 to limit' the upward movement thereof as clearly shown in Fig. 11. The bolt head 10c passesthroughy the opening 29C when the handles are pressed together. Theupper plate82 is provided with a rwedge-shaped opening 37 in alinement with the wedge-shaped cutting kknife 1G and with an opening 38 in alinement with the slitting knife 19. The lower plate 29 is provided with an opening 39, the edges of which coperate with the knives 16 and 19 to cut a tongue and a slit in the paper. In other words the plate 29 acts as the female member of the die, of which the cutting mechanism is the male member. To prevent the free end of the folder 24 from accidentally striking against the edge of the opening 37, whereby the folder might become bent or broken, the spring plate 32 is provided with an inclined guide lug 32c which directs the folder through the opening 37 without any danger of injury to the folder.

The operation of the fastener will now be clear from the above detailed description and is as follows: The sheets of paper which it is desired toffasten together are inserted in the opening between the plates 29 and 32 and the handles are pressed together to close the jaws. During the movement of the jaws toward each other, the wedge-shaped knife 16 cuts a tongue out of the paper while the slitting knife 19 slits the paper near the base of the tongue. Since thefolder 24 is rigidly connected with the handle 1 at 15, the bringing together of the handles will draw the folder rearwardly with respect to the jaws until the free end of the folder rests substantially in the eye 21 of the slitting knife 19, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 12. During this movement of the folder relative to the jaws, it will bend or fold the cut-out tongue through the eye in the knife, so that upon the separation of the jaws the tongue will be drawn through the slit 41 in the paper 41a, as indicated in Figs. 9 and 10. The bodily shifting of the folder 24 with respect to the jaws, does not occur immediately upon forcing the jaws toward each other, but is delayed until the stud 15 reaches the rear end of the elongated slots 27a. The purpose of this lost-motion connection between the folder and the handles is to close the jaws sufficiently to bring the free end 28 of the folder beyond the opening 37 before the rearward shifting of the folder into operative position takes place. A single operation of the device is sufficient to automatically cut a tongue out of the paper, slit the paper near the base of the tongue, and draw the free end of the tongue through the slit. By arranging the folder as above described, it-will be apparent that thefolder is at no time subjectedk to any substantial degree of tension and lis simply shifted bodily against the slitting knife during the operation of the device. This obviates the liability of breakage which is so apt to occur where the folder is a spring blade, having a normal set toward the eye of the knife, and where it is consequently necessary to hold the spring away from the knife in opposition to its normal set.

'In the modification of folder shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the folder 24L is a spring strip secured at one end to the stud 42, which is carried by the jaw 10. The normal position of the folder is as indicated in Fig. 4. When the jaws are closed, the lug 43 which is struck-up on the jaw 8 engages the curved portion of the folder and forces the free end thereof into the eye of the slitting knife 19, as indicated in Fig. 5. When the jaws are opened again the normal set of the folder will cause'the same to assume the position indicated in Fig. 4.

Another modified form of folder is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 in which the folder 24b is pivoted at an intermediate point to the rotatable stud 44 carried by the jaw 10. A compression spring 45 is fixed at one end to the jaw 10 and at the other end to the rear of the folder 24h to normally'hold the same in the position indicated in Fig. y6. In other words, the compression spring normally tends to hold the rear end of the folder in a downward position so that the free end'of the folder is held away fromthe eye of the cutting knife 19. When the jaws are closed, the projecting end 31h of the bolt 31a will strike the folder and move the rear end of the same upwardly, whereby the free end of the folder is moved into the eye of the slitting knife, as shown in Fig. 7 Vhen the jaws are again separated the spring 45 restores the folder to the position indicated in Fig. 6.

'In describing the modifications shown in Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive, I have not thought it necessary to describe in detail those parts which have already been described in connection with the constructions shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 11, and 12, since such detailed description would be mere repetition.

While I have described and illustrated certain specific forms of my invention, I would have it understood that I do not intend to be limited to those forms, since it is obvious that changes and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention aS defined in the appended claims.

In my co-pending application, Ser. No. 652,957, filed October 5th, 1911, claims are made on the paper fastening machine having a pivoted tucker.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure lby Letters Patent of the United-States is:

rl. In a paper fastener, the combination of acutting knife toi yforma tongue from the paper, a slitting knife movable to slit the paper near the base of the tongue, said slitting knife being provided with an eye near its slitting edge, and a substantially inelastic folder separate from said knives and movable bodily to force the end of the tongue into the eye of the slitting knife whereby the slitting knife upon its return movement will draw the end of the tongue through the slit in the paper.

2. YIn a paper fastener, the combination of a cutting knife to form a tongue from the paper, a slitting knife to slit the paper near the base of said tongue, said slitting knife being provided with an eye near its slitting edge, a slidingly kmounted folder separated from said knives and normally having its freey end away from the eye of the slitting knife, and means for sliding said folder with a positive movement to bend said tongue through said eye, whereby the slitting knife automatically rdraws the end ,of the tongue through the slit whensaid knife is withdrawn.

3. In a paper-fastener, the combination of a cutting knife to form a tongue from the paper, a slitting knife to slit the paper near the base of said tongue, said slitting knife being provided with an eye near its slitting edge, a folder separate from said knives and normally having its free end away from the eye of the slitting knife, and means for bodily shifting said folder toward said slitting knife to cause the free end of said folder to bend the tongue through said eye, whereby the slitting knife automatically draws the end of said tongue through the slit when the knife is withdrawn.

4. In a paper-fastener, the combination of a pair of jaws, a cutting knife to form a tongue from the paper, a slitting knife to slit the paper near the base of the tongue, said knives being rigidly mounted in one of said jaws, a slidingly mounted folder associated with said knivesI for causing the slitting .knife to draw the end of the tongue through the slit in the paper when the jaws are opened, said folder being separate from said slitting knife, and means for closing and opening said jaws.

5. In a paper-fastener, the combination of a pair of jaws, a cutting knife to form a tongue from the paper, a slitting knife to slit the paper near the base of the tongue, said slitting knife having an eye, said knives being rigidly mounted in one of said jaws, a folder associated with said knives, said folder comprising a portion extending between said knives and a portion extending longitudinally in the jaw which carries the knives, a pair of vpivotally connected gripping members for -closing'and opening said 'aws and a connection between the inner end of said folder and one of said gripping members for bodily shifting the folder relatively to said-jaws into folding position when the same are closed, whereby the free end of the folder bends the tongue through Y I said eye and causes the slitting knife to draw the tongue through the slit when rthe jaws vare opened.

a pair of pivotally connected gripping members for closingand opening said jaws, and means for connecting said folder with one of said gripping members for bodily shifting the folder relative to said jaws when the latter are closed, whereby the free end of the folder bends the tongue through said eye and causes the slitting-knife to draw the tongue through the slit when the jaws are opened. 7 In a paper-fastenenthe combination of a pair of jaws, a cutting knife to form a tonguel from the paper', a slitting knife to slit the paper near the base of the tongue, said slitting knife having an eye, said knives beingrigidly mounted in one of said jaws, a folder associated with said knives, said folder comprising a portion extending between said knives and a portion extending longitudinally in the jaw which carries the knives, a pair of pivotally connected gripping members for closing and opening said jaws, and means whereby the operation of the gripping members to close the jaws produces bodily shifting of the folder so that the free end of the folder bends the tongue through said eye and causes the slitting knife to draw the tongue through the slit when the jaws are opened. i

8. In a paper-fastener, the combination of a Vcutting knife to form a tongue from the paper, a slitting knife to slit the paper near the base of said tongue, said slitting knife being provided with an eye near its slitting edge, a folder separate from said slitting knife and normally having its free end away fromvthe eye of the slitting knife, and means for bodily shifting said folder toward said slitting knife to cause the free end of said folder to bend the tongue through said eye, whereby the slitting knife automatically drawsthe end of said tongue through the slit when the knife is withdrawn, and a lug for guiding said folder into folding position.

9. In a paper-fastener, the combination Vof a pair of jaws, a cutting knife to form a tongue from the paper, a slitting knife to slit the paper near the base of the tongue, said slitting knife having an eye, said knives being rigidly mounted in one of said jaws, a folder associated with said knives, said folder' comprising a portion extending between said knives and a portion extending longitudinally in the jaw which carries the knives, a pair of pivotally connected gripping members for closing and opening said jaws, and a lost-motion connection between the inner end of said folder' and one of said gripping members for bodily shifting the folder relatively to .said jaws into folding position after the latter have been brought together a certain amount, whereby the free end of the folder bends the tongue through said eye and causes the slitting knife to draw the tongue through the slit when the jaws are opened.

10. In a paper-fastener, the combination of a pair of jaws, handle members for closing said jaws, a spring housed in each of said jaws and connected at its forward end to the jaw and at its rear end t0 one of the handle members for normally holding the jaws in open position, a cutting knife and a slitting knife carried by one of said jaws, and a folder associated with said kuives for causing the slitting knife to draw the end of the tongue through the slit in the paper w/hen the jaws are opened.

1l. In a paper fastener, the combination of a pair of jaws, handle members for operating said jaws, a cutting knife and a slitting knife carried by oney of said jaws, a folder associated with said knives for causing the slitting knife to draw the end of the tongue through the slit in the paper when the jaws are opened, a resilient plate secured to the other jaw and having a normal set toward said jaw, engaging means secured to said first mentioned jaw for holding said plate away from said other jaw,

and means carried on said other jaw for positively limiting the outward movement of said plate.

l2. In a paper fastener, the combination of ka pair of jaws, handle members for operating said jaws, a cutting knife and a slitting knife carried by the upper jaw, a folder associated with said knives for causing the slitting knife to draw a paper tongue through the slit in the paper when the jaws are opened, a stripper plate secured to the lower jaw and having a normal set toward that body, and means secured to said upper jaw at the rear of said slitting knife for lifting the stripper plate from the lower jaw when the fastener is opened.

13. In a paper fastener, the combination of a pair of parallel movement jaws, handle members for operating said jaws, a tongue cutting knife and a slitting knife carried by the upper jaw, said slitting knife having an eye, a folder associated with said knife for pressing the cut tongue through the eye of the slitting knife so that the tongue may be drawn through the slit in the paper when the jaws are opened, a stripper plate secured to the lower jaw, and means extending downward from the upper jaw at the rear of the slitting knife to engage said stripper plate and lift it when the jaws are opened, and means for positively limiting the upward movement of said stripper plate to clear the knives of paper when the jaws are opened.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name to this specilication in the presence of two witnesses.

J. C. HAWKINS.

Witnesses:

V. E. STAMPER, H. R. CONN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

